Article of footwear



Jan. 5, 1932. H. P. MANVILLE ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR 'Filed Nov, 13, 1930 Patented Jan. 5, :i932

. Lam

UNITED sTATEs PATENT orre- HENRIETTA '.PORR MANVILLE, 0F NE- HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASGNOR T THE GOODYEARS INDIA RUBBER GLOVE MFGYCOMEANY, F NAGATUCK, GONNECTICUT,

.l yGORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT ARTICLE OF FOOTWMR Application tiled November 13, 1930. Serial so. 195,SSO.

and the shoe clad foot, from inclement' weather, but also, and particularly, the hosiery against splashing the region well above the ankle,if not in proximity to the calf of the leg, this invention ainrs to provide a construction of ga-iter serving these purposes, andat the same time, eliminating the necessity of'providing a gaiter with a fastening construction, such as the so-called multiple fasteners or a pleated construction,

such as pockets in what the public at large knows as arctic footwear. The invention in eliminating the -so-called multiple fasteners and pockets cheapens the cost of manufacturing such footwear, and also the gaiters may be made form fitting to the enhancement of their appearance. v

'-With the manufacture of gaiters for women particularly in mind, and withoutv intention toV limit more than is required by the prior art, the invention briefly stated consists `in a gaiter with an upper' that is complete,

unbroken and without expansible folds to a height approximating ithe ankle 'oint at least in the front of the shoe, in the ack thereof being higher. The material of the upper and its method of assembly permit such relatively high type of footwear to be slipped on and l off the-foot with celerity and facility. e

One embodiment of the invention. is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

-Figure l shows a gaiter in perspective,

- parts of it being turned to expose the construction;

Fig. 2is aplan view of the vamp and quarters of the upper in flat assembled rela.- tion prior to lasting;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fg- 1; y E

JFig. Llis a cross-section on the line 4.--4 of Fig. 1;- and v 'dered as frictionless as cated at 7 and 7 with av vamp 8. The

quarters and vamp are of substantially identical construction excepting as to their shape, each being composed of a piece of knit lining material 9 the inner surface of which is not coated with rubber thereby being renossible to facilitate donning and doiiing. 'l e wales of each section of the knit lining 9 extend in the direction illustratedf'in the drawings so as to permit the assembled upper to stretch in directions transverse the path of movement of the foot when it is introduced or removed from the shoe. That is to say, the vamp is extensible across the front, and the quarters are extensible yon a line parallel to the plane of the sole. At right angles, both the vamp and quarters are relatively inextensible.

In manufacturing the shoe the sections of the knit lining 9- are preferably .first lightly rubberized on their outer surfaces by the application of a lining coat, or otherwise. as convenient, in order to insure a good bonding thereto of an outer layer of rubber of substantial thickness (preferably around .O15 of an inch but thicker-or thinner if desired) of a rubber composition capable, after vulcanization, of stretching readily; if not to an optimum extent.

After the two quarters 6 and 6 and the vamp 8 have been initially rubberized as indicated at 10, and then united together by l yoverlapping their margins as at and 7', thejoints are preferably, but not necessarily, reinforced by laying on a narrow bead of vulcanizable rubber composition 11. rlhis bead 11 vis desirably extended as indicated at 12 to reinforce what becomes the upper free edge of the gaiter. Then, over the assembled sections of the lining is applied a layer of substantial thickness of composition 13;

which, as before indicated, is capable of stretching-readily after its cure. `This stock 13 is preferably made in one piece so that the Surface of the finished shoe is smooth andl joined together. This unitin ofthe upper proper is prefera ly ,ggg Sired.

1 s inserted and the whim of the wearer.

unbroken through its extent, excepting Aof course at the rear where its rear edges are of the parts effected before lasting, and in the overlappin relation shown in Fig. 4. After lasting, aack stay 14 applied and over this in the region of the heel is applied a second reinforcement 15 also of thin rubberized fabric. A- foxing 16, a gum heel piece 17, and a toe cap'reinforcement 18 are then'applied, these parts being preferably of vulcanizable rubber composition, after which the outsole and heel 19 are placed and stitched down.

A reinforcement 20 is preferably applied to the front of thel shoe immediately at the juncture of the two 'quarters to resist the relatively great tendency to rupture at -this point incident to the application or removal of the gaiter. While this reinforcement may be of any suitable material, it is preferably made of a substantial thickness of vulcanizable rubber composition and of.. a not unattractive appearance. Itj may be applied at any suitable and convenient time and pref- -erably is applied immediately after the quarters and vamp have been assembled together in the Hat and covered with the main waterproof layer 13, in the condition illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Instead v of all rubber composition for this reinforcement, however, it -in turn may I be stren thened by incorporation of va piece of fa ric (preferably bias cut or knit), if and as de- .elevation above the ground. It should not be cut so that this low point 22 in the o en-' ing 21 comes much higher thanlthe a ore-y -mentioned plane if-the donning and doing of the gaiter over a shoe clad foot is to be rendered easyand expeditious. On the other hand, the naar portion of the opening 21 is desirably made high, and about as shown, in order toprotectthe hosiery of the wearer from splashing in bad weather; This cut of the opening 21 not only protects and warms some ofthe leg, but when the shoes, as frequently happens, are worn in cold but fair weather, also permits the rear portion to be lturned downto provide a cuifed effect varying the appearance of the gaiter tosuit With the gaiter of the.prevsent ln'vention the wearermay inexpensively provide herself with a neat, practical, stylish, footwear covering whose appearance may be slightly varied at will in any kind of weather,

whether it be rainy, or snowy, or merely cold.

The gaiter may be put on and taken 0E with celerity and without any chance of its becoming locked on thetfoot as has happened in connection with the so-called multiple fasteners compelling their destruction to remove.

The main feature of construction` is the selection of the knit lining material and lits outer covering of vulcanized rubber composition 13 whose thickness and whose characterpermit the composite wall afforded by their vulcanized union to not only be without rupture, to an extent permitting ingress and egress of the foot, but also resumption of the gaiter to normal size or to snug position about the ankle and leg of the wearer in service. p The last named feature is particularly important and desirable if the gaiter is to meet the merchandising requirements of neat end is attained particularly by suitably compounding the stock constituting the layer 13. While any number of suitable compositions may be employed one such suitable composition is as follows i Parts b v Ingredients weightA Rubber 'p 69. 4 Sulphur 1. 0 An accelerator of the nitro phenol ester of dithiocarbamic acid class, `one of which is known as Safex 0.v 3 Zinc oxide l 6.7 Soft gas black, an example of which is known as Fumnex v 5. 3 Whiting 17. 3

`The gaiter of this invention is extremely .light and the wearer.

tired when occasion may demand a lengthy walk. It is perfectly waterproof because of its 'unbroken and continuous wall structure from the sole to a point at least as high as the ankle joint.

an understanding of the scope and limitsof the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 'I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A waterproof gaiter comprising a sole stretched,l

and' stylish appearance. This will not become unduly' From the above the 'principle of the in and alexible upper extending substantially r j to the sole for 'snugly fitting the form of a @hOQ-Glad-oot and ankle, said flexible upper ,opening at the to comprising a fabric ply and a 'rubber ply vulcanized to one surface of said fabric ply, said plies being extensible in directions substantially transverse to the path takenby a shoe-clad foot with respect to lthe gaiter when being donnedY or doifed through. an of they gaiter, the said opening being fde ned by the top vedges of said upper, and said upper being so shaped that its top edges slope upwardly from the front of the gaiter and from near the height of the ankle toward the back of the gaiter and toa substantial distance above the ankle, the said upper beingnthereby formed with a relatively low cut front portion about which the gaiter may be'pivoted on the front of the foot and ankle for facilitating the said donning and doiiing, and'with a relatively high back portion for protection against splashin A. waterproof gaiter having a sole portion united to an upper, said upper comprising a knit lining theinner surface of which is substantially free of rubber composition and the-outer surface of which is covered with and has vulcanizxingly united thereto a layer of vulcanized rubber composition of substantially uniform thiclmess rendering it waterproof, said upp'er normally being of a predetermined shapel approximately corresponding to a shoe clad foot in which shape l said knit lining is substantially unstretched and consequently possesses its normal capacity to stretch, said` upper being distensible in directions transverse the direction in which the shoe clad foot is moved relative the gaiter in its introduction and removal therefrom, said upper being complete -and .unbroken between the plane of the sole and a second plane parallel thereto but on the opposite side of the ankle joint, and said upper being substantially higher at the rear than at the front, whereby the introduction and removal of the foot is facilitated while protection is aorded against splashing atand adjacent'the rear of the article.

3. A waterproof gaiter having a sole portion united to an upper, said upper comprising a lining of extensible knit fabric surfaced with vulcanized rubber on its exterior face by which said upper has a capacity toregain its form after being stretched over a shoe-clad foot, said upper normally being of a shape? approximately corresponding to a shoe clad foot, said upper at thev front center of the .gaiter terminating adjacent a plane passing through the ankle joint of the wearer and parallel to the tread surface of the gaiter, said upper being higherat the rearthan at the yfront center of the gaiter and terminating at the rearA at an elevation protecting the leg'of the wearer well above the ankle joint,

the upper edge of said upper being reinforced against' rupture incident to its distention in `donning and dong.

4. Ajwaterproof gaiter having a sole portion united to an upper, said uppercompris- `ing a knit lining the inner surface of which is substantially free of rubber composition and the outer surface of which is covered with and has vulcanizingly united thereto a layer of vulcanized rubber composition of substantially uniform thickness rendering it waterproof, said upper normally being of a predetermined shape ap roximately corresponding fto a shoe clad oot in whichshape said knit. lining isl substantially"unstretched and consequently possesses its normal capacity to stretch, said upper being distensible in directions transverse the direction in which the shoe clad foot is moved relative the 1footwear in its introduction and removal therefrom, said upper being complete and unbroken between the plane of the sole and a second plane parallel thereto but on the opposite side ofthe ankle joint, the knit lining of'said upper being composed of two quarters and a'vamp andthe wales of which knit lining extend in an up and down direction relative the foot and leg to which the gaiter is to be applied, said quarters and vamp being joined together to make at least two seams Vextending from the sole in the region of the instep to a point in proximity to the lowest portion of the opening through which the foot of the wearer is moved in donning and doiiing the gaiter.

5. A waterproof gaiter having `a sole portion unitedto an upper, said upper comprising a lining portion of fibrous material not substantially resisting the introduction and removal o f a shoe-clad foot and comprising also a layer of rubber composition substantially covering the lining and rendering it waterproof, said upper normally being of a predetermined shape approximately corresponding to a shoe-clad foot in which shape said lining is substantially unstretched, any cross section ofthe upper approximately corresponding to the outline of a similarly located cross section through a shoe-clad foot adapted to be receivedby the gaiter, the lining and rubber covering the lining together` constituting an upper distensible in directions transverse to the direction in which a shoe- 3 clad foot is moved, and to regions approximating the union of the upper to the sole'portion, said upper being complete and unbrokenfbetween the plane of the sole and a second plane parallel thereto buton the opposite side of the ankle joint,`said upper being provided von lwith an opening for the introduction and re-. l

moval of a shoe-clad foot, the top edges of the upper which define the opening appearing in side elevation as an approximate coni i the orm of a shoe-clad foot and ankle said flexible upperfportion comprising a ii rous layer'and a'rubber lay'er vulcanized together and of sufficient body to maintain the gaiter in a shape approximately corresponding to a shoe-clad foot when disposed in service position,said combined layers being extensible in directions substantiallyv transverse to the l l path taken bya shoe-clad foot with respect to 'the gaiter when being donned or doffed` through an opening at the top of the gaiter, and said upper belng so shaped that a material port-ion thereof adjacent said opening lies above and covers the ankle joint of the 4by reason of these wearer and slopes upwardly from the front f l toward the rear of the gaiter, the front of saidj opening terminating near the height of the ankle and far enough up on the :upper so that the portion of the upper therea'bove closely conforms to the leg at and above the ankle f-supporting and resilient characteristics of the material of the upper. Signed at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 10 day of November, 1930.

HENRIETTA PORR MAN VILLE.. 

